She’d been wrong. The next time she talked to Hannah, she’d have to tell her. He wasn’t like all the other guys she’d dated. He was better.
Chapter Eight
Jacob raced to Newark Penn Station. When the train stopped, he caught a cab to his mother’s house in Livingston. After last night’s seminar, he’d spent time with some of the Environmental Law group’s lawyers, studied for a few hours and gone to bed late. An early morning wakeup left him groggy, but he had a lot of work to do. This dinner with his mother wasn’t good for his study regimen. He’d learned a long time ago, though, his tiny mother was a force of nature. Sometimes, it was better to go with the flow.
Entering the elegant retirement community, he gave the security guard his name and waited while the man checked the visitor log. After being waved through, the cab driver drove to his mother’s building. He said hello to Harold, the handyman, who gave him a quick rundown of the news and community gossip. He buzzed upstairs to his mother and waited for the elevator. It was modern and sleek, but the doors squeaked as they closed. The noise never bothered him before, but now it set his teeth on edge. Or maybe it was the thought of spending this evening with his mother.
He shook his head as the elevator rose to the fourth floor. He wasn’t being fair to her. His mother was great. She’d always supported him as a child, raised him well. Since his father died, she’d shown strength of character he admired more than anything. She was a lot to take, though.
As he walked down the silver-carpeted hallway, he tried to adjust his attitude. It wouldn’t do for his mother to notice something in his voice or posture. The evening would be ruined before it began. He had enough time to roll his shoulders and take a deep breath before his mother opened her door.
“Hello, dear. It’s good to see you!” She wrapped him in a bear hug, took his hand and led him into the townhome. “Come in, come in. Relax.”
He followed her down the beige-tiled hallway into the kitchen. From the delicious smells wafting from the oven, he identified roast chicken and garlic potatoes. “Mmm, smells great, Ma.”
“Thanks. I’m sure it’s nowhere near as good as your chef friend can make, though.” She pulled out a tray of roasted asparagus. Jacob grabbed an oven mitt to help as he tried to force his stomach to unclench.
“I wouldn’t say that, Ma. Here, let me do it.”
She handed him a serving bowl and tongs. He removed the asparagus from the tray.
“So tell me, how are your studies going?”
“Well. There’s a lot this time of year, plus I’ve started studying for the Bar exam. I’m never able to get ahead of it.”
She nodded as she carried the bowl into the dining room.
“Why are we getting fancy, Ma? We can eat in the kitchen.”
“My son comes to dinner, we eat in the dining room.”
He shrugged. “Okay. Want me to set the table?”
“Yes, please.”
Since it was the two of them, he placed the settings on the end and the side of the table, rather than across from each other. His mother brought out the potatoes.
“So, you’re not ahead of your studies, but you’re not falling behind? Dating is a great diversion, but you need to keep your focus on the grand prize. It’s a delicate balance.”
“Don’t worry, I know, Ma. Nothing will keep me from doing well.”
“Your chef friend understands?”
He cringed at his mother’s description of Aviva. He didn’t want to perpetuate a lie, but he also didn’t want to discuss too much about her. Again, he had to figure out a way to correct her without making her think he lied to her. Which he had.
“She’s not my chef friend, Ma. Her name is Aviva.”
“That’s right, she’s Jewish.” A smile lit his mother’s face. He caught a glimpse of what a beautiful woman she’d been when she was younger. Not that she wasn’t attractive now, but her smile gave her an inner glow that radiated.
“Yes, she’s Jewish.”
“She’ll have to come to Shabbat dinner soon.”
“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself, Ma. We just started dating. It’s a bit early to meet the parents, remember?”
His mother handed him the carving knife and put her hands on her hips. “Excuse me, but you don’t have time to waste dating random girls. If you like her enough to fit her into your busy schedule, it’s serious enough for me to meet her.”
He’d carved brisket and turkey and chicken long enough, he could do it in his sleep. Which was a good thing, because the only thing he could focus on was his mother’s desire to meet his girlfriend.
Was Aviva his girlfriend? Well, they’d gone out enough for it to be true. He liked her enough for it to be more than true. They hadn’t discussed it, but he wasn’t sure if one needed to specifically discuss it before declaring it. He’d sound like an idiot, but he guessed he could ask her the next time he spoke to her. Are you my girlfriend? He shook his head in exasperation. Yeah, that doesn’t make me sound like a shlemiel.
But his immediate concern was his mother. She wanted to meet Aviva. He needed to clear things up regarding the information he’d told her. The only thing he remembered talking about was she was a chef. For the moment, he’d gotten her off calling her his “chef-friend”—reminding his mother of her a name was useful for that—and would be an easy mistake to correct later. But what else did he tell her?
“Okay, Ma, I’ll make sure she comes to dinner. I’m not sure exactly when, though, since we both have busy schedules.”
“Get it on the calendar so we know it will happen.” She served him food. He picked up her plate as well. “Now, tell me about this speed-dating business. Is that the only way for you to meet a girl?”
Apparently, this entire dinner would focus on his girlfriend. Wonderful. He stifled a sigh. “They’re popular, now, Ma.”
“Oh, but is it safe, Jacob? I just read an article in the newspaper about a young man who was taken to the cleaners by a girl he met on the Internet. You can never be too careful.”
Jacob took a deep breath, followed by a forkful of chicken. So much for speed-dating. Now what? “I’m very careful. There are rules and security measures when you sign up. Adam did it with me.” That was the truth.
“Oh, okay. How is Adam?”
Although he wondered why Adam’s involvement suddenly made something legitimate, Jacob continued to eat and filled his mother in on Adam’s life, providing far more information than she probably cared to hear. But it was better than a discussion about Aviva. That conversation, and fixing the mess he’d made in the beginning, would take longer than he originally realized and more time than he currently had. Because his mother, as great as she was, held grudges. If she knew he’d lied to her, even by mistake, she’d remind him of it whenever she felt wronged by him. He’d eventually have to straighten things out. Sooner rather than later. Until he figured out a plan of action, he hoped distraction would work.
When they finished dinner, Jacob rose to clear the table.
Karen followed him into the kitchen. “How was your seminar last night? Do they usually do such things on Shabbat?”
“It was interesting. Last night was the first time they told me about one on a Friday night. I’m not sure why they chose to do it then, but I’m glad I went.” He told her about the people who gave the seminar, the attendees, the conference room where it was located, and the information it covered. “Afterward, they took us out for drinks at a nearby bar.”
“It was nice of them to do, although I’m not a fan of missing Shabbat. Do they have many Jews in the firm?”
He swallowed. “I’m sure they do, Ma. It was a good chance to get to know some of the junior partners better. I worked with one of them last summer, but the other three were new to me.”
“Maybe if they had enough time to go out for drinks, you’ll have some free time when you work for them.”
Jacob exhaled, rolled his sleeves and loaded the dishwasher. “I doub
t it. They were all headed back to the office when I left at ten.”
“Oh, no, Jacob. Are you sure this is the best place for you to work? It can’t be healthy to put in such long hours.”
“It’s the same with all big law firms, Ma. I want to work there.” His chest lightened at the thought of a future with them. “They have a fantastic Environmental Law practice. After I put in a few years there, I can have my pick of anywhere. Trust me, it will be worth it in the end.”
“What does Aviva say?”
He gripped the edge of the sink and shut his eyes a moment. “She knows I have limited time, but she also knows I’ll make time for her. She understands. We discussed it.”
“Oh, you ‘discussed it.’ ”
“What do you mean?” He folded his arms across his chest.
His mother fiddled with the dishtowel. “So you’re at a point in your relationship where you discuss those things, but I can’t meet her?”
He sighed, stepped toward her and gave her a hug. “Ma, we discuss our time constraints all the time, since both of us are busy. I told her I’d make sure to make time for her. Just like I make time for you. Don’t worry, I promise you’ll meet her.”
She looked at him. “I know I’m probably being silly. You have a life to live. I want you to enjoy it. I just don’t want you to run yourself completely ragged, either.” She stood on tiptoe and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t think I don’t recognize your stalling tactics.”
“What stalling tactics?”
“The ones you’re using to distract me from your new girlfriend.”
Jacob’s neck warmed. He pulled at the collar of his shirt. “Ma—”
“Don’t Ma me, Jacob. I recognize the signs. I’m your mother. I created those signs in you. Or maybe your father did. Regardless, I’ll go along with it for now. I understand the relationship is new. But one of these days”—she shook her finger at him—“you’ll have to satisfy my curiosity.”
He hugged her again. “I can’t get anything by you, can I?”
Karen fixed him with a stare. “No. You can’t.”
****
“So, this is the girlfriend.”
Aviva looked up from her laptop. Jacob was scowling at a guy who’d walked into the apartment. He was tall and lanky, wearing gym shorts and earbuds, and holding coffee. He scanned her with frank interest. She met his green-eyed gaze with a smile.
“Hi, I’m Aviva.”
“And she’s obviously more polite than you,” Jacob added. “Aviva, this is Adam, my roommate.”
“Don’t believe everything Jake tells you, unless it’s good. In which case, assume he’s playing down my strengths.”
Aviva laughed at Adam’s smooth mannerisms. “How about I reserve judgment for now?” He appeared different from Jacob—more laid back and cavalier. He reminded her of a goofy puppy.
Adam turned to Jacob. “I like her.”
“Great, my life’s complete. Now leave.” Jacob frowned, but rather than obey, Adam pulled out a chair and sat.
“Whatcha studying?” Adam looked with interest at Aviva’s laptop screen.
“Adam,” Jacob warned.
“Jake.”
Jacob crossed his arms. Aviva was curious about his reaction to his roommate. They’d discussed roommates briefly when they first met, but Jacob seemed intent on getting rid of Adam today. Aviva didn’t know why, but she was curious to find out.
“I’m taking a writing class. I have a paper due tomorrow.”
He picked up her thesaurus and flipped through it. “Cool. You guys want to get lunch?”
“We ate already,” Jacob said, through clenched teeth.
“Thanks for the offer, though,” Aviva added. “We’re kind of in a groove now. If we stop, it’ll be hard to get going again. At least for me. But maybe another time.”
“Okay. I’m gonna grab a bite and watch the Yankees game.”
Aviva pulled her Yankees T-shirt away from her body.
Adam grinned. “Awesome, another pinstripes fan.” He turned to Jacob. “Dude, you’re outnumbered.”
Jacob shrugged. “It’s okay. I’ll survive.”
“Yeah, until the next subway series.” Adam saluted. “See you later, Jake. Aviva, nice to meet you. We’ll have to watch a game soon so I can find out all about you.”
Aviva waved. As Adam left the apartment, she leaned forward. “What was that about?”
Jacob shook his head. “I have no idea.”
“Actually, I meant you. Why didn’t you want Adam to hang around?”
He raked his hands through his hair, tapped his pencil on the table before he answered. “I don’t know. He’s my best friend. I didn’t want him to give you a hard time.”
Aviva walked around the table. Pulling out the chair next to Jacob, she sat and took his hand in hers. “I’m really good at taking care of myself, you know. I can handle Adam.”
He played with her hands. Aviva focused on the different texture of his skin against hers. His fingers were long and flexible. She wondered what they’d feel like on her body.
“I’m sure you can. It’s just…”
“Are you jealous?”
His head shot up. His neck and face flushed before he looked away. Aviva put her hand on his arm. A small smile played on her lips.
“I shouldn’t be,” he said.
“But you are.”
He nodded wordlessly. “Damn. I swore I’d never be that guy.”
“What guy?”
“The ‘jealous’ guy. You’re not mine. I don’t have the right to say who can talk to you or not.” He frowned. “Why are you laughing?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. I just think it’s sweet you’re jealous. Listen, we haven’t talked about it, but I get the feeling you want us to be exclusive, am I right?”
“Yes.”
“Good, so do I. But it doesn’t prevent either of us from being friends with, or friendly to, guys and girls. We both have friends. We should be able to see them. It will be a lot easier to do if we’re introduced to each other’s friends and even sometimes do things together.”
Jacob rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ve never had that rush of jealousy before when Adam was around a girlfriend of mine. He probably won’t let me forget it, either.”
“He’s your friend. Friends bust each other all the time. It’s our right. But seriously, you have no reason to be jealous of Adam and me. I’m interested in you, not him. He calls you Jake?”
He shrugged. “His choice, not mine.” He kissed her. It was short, but tingles ran from her spine to her toes. As he pulled away, he rubbed noses with her. “I’ll have to figure out what my deal is. But I promise I won’t be the guy whose girlfriend can’t have guy friends. I won’t be suspicious or crazy, okay?”
She took his lower lip between her teeth and pulled gently. “Okay.”
He pulled at her waist. She climbed onto his lap. His arm wrapped around her and drew her close. As she leaned into him, his heart beat against her. Resting on his shoulder, she breathed sandalwood and spice. Peace settled over her. He liked her. He wanted to be with her. He wanted to give her space too, despite the fact he wasn’t particularly good at it at this moment. But he was willing to work on it. She smiled against his neck.
“What?” he asked.
“I like you.”
“I like you too. But you’ve got to sit over there”—he pointed at the chair across the table—“so I can finish studying. Because I’ll never get this done with you on top of me.”
She wiggled against him. He groaned. With a laugh, she returned to her seat. “So I’m a distraction, huh?”
He nodded.
“I’ll remember that.”
****
“Aviva, how is the guest list coming along?”
Aviva looked past her computer to Meryl, who stood in the doorway of her office on Monday morning. “It’s all set. Do you want me to email it to you or print it out for y
ou?”
Meryl’s blood-red lips stretched into a smile. Expensive perfume wafted around Aviva. Her boss approached her. “Wonderful. Save a few trees and email it to me. Have we gotten the invitation designs from the stationer yet?”
“They weren’t in my inbox this morning, but let me check again.” Aviva pulled up her email and did a quick scan. “No, they’re still not here. Do you want me to give Stephanie a call?”
“Please. Tell her we need to get the choices to our client by end of day tomorrow.” She turned around, back ramrod straight in her Oscar De La Renta cobalt pencil dress. Before she exited the office, she spun around. “Oh, I wanted to thank you for your extra work the past few days. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
Aviva’s cheeks warmed. “Thank you. It’s not a problem. We’ve all put in a lot of time on this account.”
Meryl nodded. “Make sure you clear your calendar for the night of the gala. You should definitely plan on being there.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. You put in the work. You deserve to see the results.” She walked away.
Aviva tried to quiet her racing heart. This was the first time she’d received so much praise. She didn’t know whether to be excited she was finally making her mark, or scared about all the attention. She closed her eyes. An image of Jacob from yesterday flashed. It was the one of him looking sheepish when she caught his jealousy over Adam. She opened her eyes. Spinning around in her desk chair, she suppressed the shriek of glee that bubbled in her chest. Things were finally going her way. She would revel in the happiness for as long as it lasted. If her boss praised her, she wouldn’t fear the “what ifs” that could happen later. If her boyfriend—she could call him her boyfriend now—tried to not feel jealous, she wouldn’t feel stifled but rather would appreciate how much he cared about her. Things were looking up. Now all she had to do was turn in her final paper tonight.
Five Minutes to Love Page 7
